Vehicular router having vertical cylindrical tool



A ril 26,1966 R. s. HENDERSON ETAL 3,248,152

VEHICULAR ROUTER HAVING VERTICAL CYLINDRICAL TOOL Filed March 23, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Lil INV EN TORS R 6. Henderson H. Hunfer I 5/11 Man/101April 26, 1966 HENDERSQN ET AL 3,248,152

VEHICULAR ROUTER HAVING VERTICAL CYLINDRICAL TOOL Filed March 23, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

'II'IJI Fill IN V EN TORS RS. Henderson I 5. f/anzer EM Mannzhg UnitedStates Patent Ofi ice 3,248,152 Patented Apr. 26, 1966 Pipe LineConstruction Co., 11832 S. Bloomfield, Santa Fe Springs, Calif.)

Filed Mar. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 181,889 The portion of the term of thepatent subsequent to Feb. 12, 1982, has been disclaimed Claims. (CL29941) This invention relates to a pavement cutter and is moreparticularly concerned with a vehicular routing machine for routingchannels in pavement surfaces along random cracks therein.

It is not infrequent that pavements of concrete, asphalt, and the like,crack or fracture along random lines, as a result of settling and/ orshifting of the sub-grade. Once a crack or fracture is established in apavement, a Working joint is established thereby which normally enlargesor opens up as time passes and the movement is subjected to normal use.Still further, water enters such joints and washes the sub-grade outand/ or freezes so as to open the joint further and set up forces whichcreate additional cracks and joints.

As a result of the above, many square miles of pavement and othersimilar surfacings 'are destroyed and rendered useless each year at theexpense of many millions of dollars to the public and to privateconcerns. In an effort to correct or retard destruction or deteriorationof pavements which have cracks therein, it is the present day practiceto lay or pour a suitable sealing compound along the cracks as theydevelop. Unfortunately, the sealing compounds normally serve merely tocap the cracks, in a manner similar to laying strips of tape, or

the like over the cracks, and rarely enter the cracks to effectivelyseal them. The sealing compounds, as normally employed, are subject tobeing worn away, displaced by impact, and separating from the pavementas a result of temperature changes, and the like. Still further, sincesuch sealing compounds are not contained they must, necessarily, be ofsuch nature that they will set up rather hard, and as a result the sealestablished thereby is readily destroyed.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel means for establishingupwardly opening sealing compound receiving grooves along random cracksin a concrete pavement, or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel, powerdriven, vehicular routing machine having an elongate frame and a pair oflaterally spaced support wheels at the rear of the frame, a verticalfork pivotally connected to the front end of the frame, a pair oflaterally spaced drive wheels carried by the fork, and means forpivoting the fork relative to the frame.

It is an object of this invention to provide a routing machines of thecharacterreferred to having a vertically disposed cylindrical routingtool occurring in a vertical plane intermediate to the drive wheels, andintersecting the pivotal axis of the fork, a drive motor for the toolcarried by the fork, a drive means for the drivewheels including a motorcarried by the fork, and a variable speed. transmisison driven by saidmotor.

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide a generator plant at therear end of the frame supplying current to the motors.

It is a. further object of the present invention to provide a routingmachine of the character referred to which is highly maneuverable andsuch that the routing tool can be easily and conveniently guided alongrandom cracks in a pavement over which the machine is operated.

The various objects and features of our invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of two typicalpreferred forms and application of our invention, throughout whichdescription reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of our new routing machine;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of our new machine;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is a view taken as indicated by line 44 on FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view taken as indicated by line 55 on FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view taken as indicated by line 66 on FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3, reduced in scale and showing anotherform of our invention.

FIG. 8 is a view taken as indicated by line 8-8 on FIG. 7.

The routing machine provided by the present invention includes, anelongate body B having a flat, horizontally disposed platform P, and acentral forwardly projecting frame F. The platform P is established of aflat, horizontally disposed, substantially rectangular steel platehaving front and rear ends 10 and 11, parallel sides 12, and flat topand bottom surfaces 13 and 14.

The frame F is an elongate member fabricated of steel channel, and has ahorizontally disposed rear portion 15 fixed to the bottom surface 14 ofthe platform, as by welding, a central portion 16 projecting forwardlyand upwardly from the rear portion 15, and a horizontally disposed frontportion 17 projecting forwardly from the upper forward end of thecentral portion.

The base of the channel establishing the rear portion 15 of the frame isdisposed upwardly and opposes the bottom surface 14 of the platform,while the base 18 of the channel establishing the front portion 17 ofthe frame is disposed downwardly and the flanges 19 thereof are relievedor cutback at the foremost end of the frame, as clearly illustrated inthe drawings, and so that the front end of the channel base 18establishes a suitable, unobstructed, mounting surface for otherelements of the construction, as will hereinafter be described.

The rear portion 15 of the frame is of limited longitudinal extent andterminates at a point spaced forward platform, rearward of the frame F.The axle housing 20 extends transversely of the platform and is shownfixed thereto by means of suitable mounting pads 21. An axle member 22is engaged through the housing 20 to project from'the opposite endsthereof and from the opposite sides 12 of the platform. A supportingwheel W is rotatably mounted at each end of the axle member.

The supporting wheels W can be of any suitable construction and areindicated as conventional automotive type wheel assemblies includingpneumatic tires.

The forward end of the frame F is provided with a suitable bearing C torotatably mount a truck T thereto. The truck T is fabricated of steel,having a flat, horizontally disposed rectangular plate-like bed 25 withfront and rear ends 26 and 27, parallel sides 28 and flat top and bottomsurfaces 29 and'30, a fork 31 having laterally spaced legs 32 fixed toand projecting upwardly from the top surface 29 of the bed, adjacent theforward corners thereof, and an elongate, horizontally disposed header33 extending between the upper ends of the legs 32, a vertical bearingspindle 34 fixed to the header 33, interof the bed is an elongatetubular axle housing 36, the

axis of which intersects the central vertical axis of the spindle 34.

An elongate axle member 37 is rotatably engaged in the housing 36 toproject from the opposite sides thereof and from the opposite sides ofthe bed and has a pair of supporting and driving wheels 38 fixed to itsopposite ends.

In the particular case illustrated, the bearing C has an annularmounting flange 39 fixed to the bottom surface of the channel base 18 ofthe frame F, and has an upwardly projecting conical housing 40projecting through an opening 41 provided in the said base of thechannel and into which the spindle 34 projects.

Since the details of construction of the bearing C can vary widelywithout affecting the novelty of this invention, we will not burden thisspecification with further unnecessary illustration and descriptionthereof.

The fork 31 of the trucks T is fabricated of sections of channel steel.The bases of the channel sections establishing the legs of the fork 31are disposed laterally inwardly, and the base of the channel sectionestablishing the header is disposed upwardly.

The spindle 34 is shown provided with a mounting flange, which flange isfixed to the base of the header, as

clearly illustrated in the drawings.

A drive means D is provided for the wheels 38,WhiCh means is shown asincluding an electric motor M with a variable speed transmission 0mounted on the top surface 29 of the bed 25 rearward of the fork 31, adrive sprocket 40 on the output shaft 41 of the transmission T, a drivesprocket 42 on the axle 37, and a drive chain 43 engaged about andextending between the said spockets.

The transmission 0 is provided with an operating or control lever 44which lever is connected with a manually engageable operating lever 45fixed to the outer end of the tiller by means of a flexible cable 46.

The transmission 0 is preferably a positive drive trans mission and issuch that it can vary the rate of lineal movement of the machine fromzero to approximately 15 feet per minute.

The motor M is supplied with current through a power line L extendingthrough a guide G fixed to the bearing housing and thence rearwardly toa power source S on the platform.

The power source S can be an electrical cable extending from a primarysource of electric current remote from the machine. However, in thepreferred carrying out of the invention, and as illustrated in thedrawings, the power source S includes a generator unit involving aninternal combustion engine 50 driving a dynamo electric machine 51 andmounted on the top surface 13 of'the platform as clearly illustrated inthe drawings.

In practice, the power supplied to the motor M is under control of asuitable switch (not shown) which switch is under control of a suitablecontrol lever 52 provided on the tiller 35 adjacent the operating lever45.

The outer end of the tiller 35 can be provided with a suitable hand grip'35 as illustrated in the drawings.

With the construction thus far described, it will be a parent that thetruck is stabilized by the Wheel-supported frame, and that the truckserves as a tractor for the wheeled frame, which frame carries thegenerating unit or power source S.

It will be further apparent that the truck is turned and guided by meansof the tiller 35, is highly maneuverable, and that the frame, beingpivotally connected with the truck, merely trails or follows the truck.

In addition to the foregoing the machine that we pro- 4. cylindricalrouter or cutting tool 60, drive means E for the cutting tool, andmounting means E for shiftably supporting the means E and the tool 60 onthe truck.

The cutting tool 60 can vary Widely in form, but is preferably a simplelength of tool steel having a metallic matrix about its lower exterior,in which is embedded industrial diamonds. v

The drive means E is a high speed electric motor 61 having a suitabletool chuck 62 on itsoutput shaft 63 in which the cutting tool 60 isreleasably engaged.

The mounting means E for the motor 61 includes a flat elongate,vertically disposed mounting pad 64 having flat front and rear surfaces65 and 66 and a pair of laterally spaced rearwardlyprojecting aperturedtabs 67 adjacent the upper end of the pad.

The pad is slightly less in lateral extent than the distance between thelegs32 of the fork 31 and is arranged adjacent the front of the truckwith its rear surface 66 engaged and stopped against the front end 26 ofthe mounting pad 25, and with the apertured tabs 67 thereon projectingrearwardly between the legs of the fork where they pivotally receive orengage pivot pins 68 carried by and projecting laterally inwardly fromsaid fork legs. The pins 68 can be in the form of bolt type fasteners,as indicated in the drawings.

The motor 61 is mounted on the front surface 65 of the pad with itscentral axis and that of the cutting tool 60 carried thereby, in avertical plane common with the central longitudinal vertical plane ofthe truck.

Still further, the pad 64 is positioned vertically relative to the truckand the motor 61 is positioned vertically relative to the pad, so thatthere is adequate working clearance between the pad and the surface overwhich the machine is operated, and so that the tool 60, which is ofpredetermined longitudinal extent, projects below the surface of the orinto the pavement over which the machine is operated, a predetermineddistance.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the pad and the axis of thecutter are normally vertical, but that when desired, the pad, with themotor 61 and tool 60 related thereto, can be pivoted forwardly andupwardly relative to the truck and to a substantially horizontallydisposed position, as indicated in phantom lines in FIG. 3 of the.drawings, and where the cutter is spaced above and clear of thepavement.

includes flushing means for cleaning and cooling the. cutting tool andfor flushing cuttings from the groove established in the pavement by thecutting tool.

The flushing means is shown as including a flat,hori zontally disposed,sheet metal splash plate 70 fixed to the lower end of the pad andprojecting forwardly therefrom and having a forwardly opening notch toprovide visibility r and accessibility to the cutting tool, and a fluidsupply means including a fluid duct 71 carried by the pad and having anozzle 72 at one end thereof to occur below the splash plate anddisposed towards the cutting tool, and a hose coupling 73 at its otherend with which a suitable fluid conducting hose 74 is connected.

In the preferred carrying out of the invention, the

fluid supply means includes a pipe 75 extending longitudinally of theplatform, having a control valve 76 at'its forward end, to which thehose 74 is connected, and a hose coupling at its rear end to which asupply hose is connected and from which the said supply hose can trail.It will be apparent from the foregoing that when the construction is inoperation, fluid, such as water, is directed onto the cutting tool andserves to cool the tool andto clean or flush the tool and the grooveestablished thereby.

In operation the generating unit is set into operation, the motors M and61 are energized and the transmission 0 is set in its zero or stoppedposition. The pad 65 which is initially in its up position is pivoteddownwardly, swinging the rotating cutter 60 into engagement with thepavement. When the tool 60 is fully engaged in the pavement and is in avertical position, the transmission 0 is adjusted, by means of a lever45, to start the machine in motion across the surface of the pavement.

The speed at which the machine travels is dependent the cutter and intothe channel or groove established by.

the cutter, to prevent excessive heating of the tool and to flush thecuttings away.

It is of particular significance to note that the drive wheels 38 arespaced laterally of the central longitudinal axis of the constructionand of the cutter so that as the machine is advanced and maneuveredacross a pavement surface, the wheels 38 will not engagein and beitnerfered With by the channel or groove established by the cutter andin such a manner as would bind or impede steering of the machine orcause undesirable and detrimental forces to be exerted onto and throughthe cutter.

It is to be understood that in practice the tool 60 can be arrangedother than on a vertical axis. Such variation may be desired orrequired, as a result of the grade of the pavement, the angle of thecrack or fracture being opening or, the particular design of the toolper se.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, it willbe noted that the vertical axis of the cutting'tool is spaced forward ofthe vertical axis of the truck. This spacing must be kept to a minimumin order to afford easy and accurate maneuvering of the construction.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 of thedrawings, the motor 61 is positioned between the legs 32 of the truck Twith its central axis and that of the cutting tool 60 carried thereby inaxial alignment with the central vertical axis of the truck. By soarranging the motor 61 and the tool 60' the cutter can be accuratelyguided along random cracks in pavement over which the machine isoperated with extreme ease and without the exercise of any particularskill on the part of the operator.

In order to arrange the motor 61' and tool 60' in the manner set forthabove, the forward end of the bed 25' is relieved, intermediate the legsof the truck, to accommodate the pad and the motor, and to establish aforwardly disposed edge 26' upon which the bed stops.

This second form of the invention further requiresthat the tabs 67'project forwardly rather than rearwardly from the pad, and that eachwheel 38' be independently supported by a separate axle member 37'engaged in a suitable, separate, axle housing or bearing 36' fixed tothe truck.

The wheels 38' being independently supported must be driven by thetransmission 0. This is accomplished by providing'driven sprockets 42'on each wheel, a countershaft 43 extending transversely of and rotatablycarride by the bed, rearward of the fork, a drive sprocket 44 at eachend of the countershaft and a chain 45' engaged about and extendingbetween the adjacent, related drive and driven sprockets, a drivensprocket 46' at the end of the countershaft adjacent the output shaft41' of the transmission 0, and a drive chain 47' engaged The operator ofthe machine can with and extending between the sprocket 46' and thesprocket 40' on the output shaft of the transmission.

In all other respects, this second form of the invention is the same asthe first form described hereinabove.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of ourinvention, we do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves anyvariations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the artand fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A vehicular routing machine of the character referred to including,an elongate frame with front and rear ends, a pair of laterally spacedsupport wheels at the rear end of the frame, a truck pivotally connectedwith the front end of the frame 011 a vertical axis and having a pair oflaterally spaced drive wheels on axes intersecting the pivotal axis ofthe truck, a motor carried by the truck and driving the drive wheels, asecond motor carried by the truck on a plane intermediate the drivewheels and having a downwardly projecting output shaft, an elongatecylindrical cutting tool releasably carried by the output shaft anddepending therefrom and into the surface on which the machine isoperated, and an elongate tiller fixed to and projetcing forwardly fromthe truck.

2. A vehicular routing machine of the character referred to including anelongate frame with front and rear ends, a pair of laterally spacedsupport wheels at the rear end of the frame, a truck pivotally connectedwith the front end of the frame on a vertical axis and having a pair oflaterally spaced drive wheels on an axis intersecting the pivotal axisof the truck, a motor carried by the truck and driving the drive wheels,a second motor carried by the truck on a plane intermediate the drivewheels and having a downwardly projecting vertically disposed outputshaft intersecting the axes of the drive.

wheels, an elongate vertically disposed cutting tool carried by theoutput shaft to depend therefrom and into the surface on which themachine is supported, and an elongate tiller fixed to and projectingforwardly from the truck.

3. A vehicular routing machine of the character referred to including,an elongate frame with front'and rear ends, a pair of laterally spacedsupport wheels at the rear and driving the drive wheels, a second motorcarried by the truck on a plane intermediate the drive wheels and havinga downwardly projecting output shaft, an elongate cylindrical cuttingtool releasably carried by the output shaft and depending therefrom andinto the surface on which the machine is operated, an elongate tillerfixed to and projecting forwardly from the truck, and a generatorcarried by the frame and supplying current to the motors,

4. A vehicular routing machine of the character referred to including,an elongate frame with front and rear ends, a pair of laterally spacedsupport wheels at the rear end of the frame, a truck pivotally connectedwith the front end of the frame on a vertical axis and having a pair oflaterally spaced drive wheels on an axis inter secting the pivotal axisof the truck, a motor carried by the truck and driving the drive wheels,a second motor carried by the truck on a plane intermediate the drivewheels and having a downwardly projecting vertically disposed outputshaft intersecting the axes of the drive wheels, an elongate verticallydisposed cutting tool carried by the output shaft to depend therefromand into the surface on which the machine is supported, an elongate rearends, a pair of laterally spaced support wheels at the rear end of theframe, a truck pivotally connected with thefront end of the frame on avertical axis and having a pair of laterally spaced drive wheels on axesintersecting the pivotal axis of the truck, a motor carried by the truckand driving the drive wheels, a second motor carried by the truck on aplane intermediate the .drive wheels and having a downwardly projectingoutput shaft, an elongate cylindrical cutting tool releasably carried bythe output shaft and depending therefrom and into the surface on whichthe machine is operated, an elongate tiller fixed to and projectingforwardly from the truck, and flushing means for cooling and flushingthe tool including, a nozzle carried by the truck and disposed towardsthe tool and a water supply hose coupled with'the'nozzle.

6. A vehicular routing machine of the character referred to including anelongate frame with front and rear ends, a pair of laterally spacedsupport wheels at the rear end of the frame, a truck pivotally connectedwith the front end of the frame on a vertical axis and having a pair oflaterally spaced drive wheels on axes intersecting the pivotal axis ofthe truck, a motor carried by the truck and driving the drive wheels, asecond motor carried by the truck on a plane intermediate the drivewheels and having a downwardly projecting vertically disposed outputshaft intersecting the axes of the drive wheels, an elongate verticallydisposed cutting tool carried by the output shaft to depend therefromand into the surface on which the machine is supported, an elongatetiller fixed to and projecting forwardly from the truck, and flushingmeans for cooling and flushing the tool including, a nozzle carried bythe truck and disposed towards the tool and a water supply hose coupledwith the nozzle.

7. A vehicular routing machine of the character referred to including,an elongate frame with front and rear ends, a pair of laterally spacedsupportwheels at the rear end of the frame, a truck pivotally connectedwith the front end of the frame on a vertical axis and having a pair oflaterally spaced drive wheels on axes intersecting the pivotal axis ofthe truck, a motor carried by the truck and driving the drive wheels, asecond motor carried by'the truck on a plane intermediate the drivewheels and having a downwardly projecting output shaft, an elongatecylindrical cutting tool releasably carried by the output shaft anddepending therefrom and into' the surface on which the machine isoperated, an elongate tiller fixed to and projecting forwardly from thetruck, flushing means for cooling and flushing the too] including,anozzle carried by the truck and disposed towards the tool, and a watersupply hose coupled with the nozzle, and a generator carried by theframe and supplying current to the motors.

8. A vehicular routing machine of the character referred to including anelongate frame with front and rear ends, a pair of laterally spacedsupport wheels at the rear end of the frame, a truck pivotally connectedwith the front end of the frame on a vertical axis and having a pair oflaterally spaced drive wheels on axes intersecting the pivotal axis ofthe truck, a motor carried by the truck and driving the drive wheels, asecond motor carried by the truck on a plane intermediate the drivewheels and having a downwardly projecting vertically disposed outputshaft intersecting the axes of the drive wheels, an elongate verticallydisposed cutting tool carried by the output shaft to dependtherefrom'and into the surface on which the machine is supported, anelongate tiller fixed to and projecting forwardly from the truck,flushing means for cooling and flushing the tool including, a nozzlecarried by the truck and disposed towards the tool and a water supplythe front endof the frame on a vertical axis intersecting the centrallongitudinal axis of the frame, said truck having a pair of laterallyspaced drive wheels on an axis intersecting the pivotal axis of thetruck, a horizontally disposed rearwardly projecting bed, a forwardlydisposed normally vertically disposed pad and a forwardly ;project-.

ing tiller, a motor with a variable speed transmission carried by thebed and coupled with the drive wheels, a second motor mounted on thepad, and an elongate, vertically disposed cylindrical cutting tooldriven by the second motor and occurring on the central vertical planeof the truck and projecting downwardly and into engagement with thesurface on which the machine is supported.

10. A vehicular routing machine of the character re ferred to includingan elongate frame with front and rear ends, a pair of laterally spacedsupporting wheels at the rear end of the frame, a'truck pivotallyconnected with the front end of the frame on a vertical axisintersecting the central longitudinal axis of the frame, said truckhaving a pair of laterally spaced drive wheels on an axis intersectingthe pivotal axis of the truck, a horizontally disposed rearwardlyprojecting bed, a forwardly disposed normally vertically disposed padand a forwardly projecting tiller, a motor with a variable speedtransmission carried by the bed and coupled with the drive wheels, asecond motor mounted on the pad, an elongate vertically disposedcylindrical cutting tool driven by the second motor and occurring on thecentral vertical plane of the truck and projecting downwardly and intoengagement with the surface on which the machine is supported, and

j a. generator mounted on the rear portion of the frame and supplyingcurrent to said motors.

11.. A vehicular routing machine of the character referred toincluding,'an elongate frame with front and rear ends, a platform at therear end of the frame, a pair of laterally spaced support wheelsrotatably carried by and supporting the platform, a downwardly openingbearing housing at the front end of the frame, a truck arranged belowthe front end of the frame and having a flat horizontally disposed bedwith front and rear ends, a fork having laterally spaced legs and ahorizontal header fixed to and projecting upwardly from the front end ofthe bed, a vertically disposed spindle fixed to and projecting upwardlyfrom the header and into the housing, a pair of laterally spaced drivewheels rotatably carried by the bed on axes intersecting the pivotalaxis of the truck and supporting the truck, and an elongate forwardlyprojecting manually engageable tiller, a motor with a variable speedtransmission carried by the bed and drive means between the transmissionand drive wheels, a flat, normally vertically disposed pad arrangedbetween the legs with its lower portion against the front end of the bedand its upper corners pivotally mounted to the legs, a second motormounted on the pad to project forwardly there-;

from and having a downwardly projecting output shaft, and an elongatenormally vertically disposed cutting tool carried by the output shaftand normally projecting into the surface over which the machine isoperated.

12. A vehicularrouting machine of the character referred to including,an elongate frame with front and rear ends, a platform at the rear endof the frame, a pair of laterally spaced support wheels rotatablycarried by and, supporting the platform, a downwardly opening bearinghousing at the front end of the frame, a truck arranged below the frontend of the frame and having a flat horizontally disposed bed with frontand rear ends, a fork having laterally spaced legs and a horizontalheader fixed to i and projecting upwardly from the frontend of the bed,"

a vertically disposed spindle fixed to and projecting upwardly from theheader and into the housing, a pair of laterally spaced drive Wheelsrotatably carried by the bed on axes intersecting the pivotal axis ofthe truck and sup porting the truck, and an elongate forwardlyprojecting manually engageable tiller, a motor with a variable speedtransmission carried by the bed and drive means between the transmissionand drive wheels, a flat, normally vertically disposed pad arrangedbetween the legs with its lower portion against the front end of the bedand its upper corners pivotally mounted to the legs, a second motormounted on the pad to project forwardly therefrom and having adownwardly projecting output shaft, and an elongate normally verticallydisposed cutting tool carried by the output shaft and normallyprojecting into the surface over which the machine is operated, saiddrive means including a drive sprocket on the transmission output shaft,a driven pulley on one of the wheels and a chain engaged about andextending between the sprockets.

13. A vehicular routing machine of the character referred to including,an elongate frame with front and rear ends, a platform at the rear endof the frame, a pair of laterally spaced support wheelsrotatably carriedby and supporting the platform, a downwardly opening bearing housing atthe front end of the frame, a truck arranged below the front end of theframe and having a flat horizontally disposed bed with front and rearends, a fork having laterally spaced legs and a horizontal header fixedto and projecting upwardly from the front end of the bed, a verticallydisposed spindle fixed to and projecting upwardly from the header andinto the housing, a pair of laterally spaced drive wheels rotatablycarried by the bed on axes intersecting the pivotal axis of the truckand supporting the truck, and an elongate forwardly projecting manuallyengageable tiller, a motor with a variable speed transmission carried bythe bed and drive means between the transmission and drive wheels, aflat, normally vertically disposed pad arranged between the legs withits lower portion against the front end of the bed and its upper cornerspivotally mounted to the legs, a second motor mounted on the pad toproject forwardly therefrom and having a downwardly projecting outputshaft, and an elongate normally vertically disposed cutting tool carriedby the output shaft and normally projecting into the surface over whichthe machine is operated, said drive means including a drive sprocket onthe transmission output shaft, a countershaft extending transverse thebed, a driven sprocket on the countershaft, a chain engaged about andextending between the said sprockets, a drive sprocket at each end ofthe countershaft, a driven sprocket on each wheel and a chain engagedabout and extending between the related drive and driven sprockets onthe countershaft and wheels.

14. A vehicular routing machine of the character referred to including,an elongate frame with front and rear ends, a platform at the rear endof the frame, a pair of laterally spaced support wheels rotata-blycarried by and supporting the platform, a downwardly opening bearinghousing at the front end of the frame, a truck arranged below the frontend of the frame and having a flat horizontally disposed bed with frontand rear ends, a fork having laterally spaced legs and a horizontalheader fixed to and projecting upwardly from the front end of the bed, avertically disposed spindle fixed to and projecting upwardly from theheader and into the housing, a pair of laterally spaced drive wheelsrotatably carried by the bed on axes intersecting the pivotal axis ofthe truck and supporting the truck, and an elongate forwardly projectingmanually engageable tiller, a motor with a variablespeed transmissioncarried by the bed and drive means between the transmission and drivewheels, a fiat, normally vertically disposed pad arranged between thelegs with its lower portion against the front end of the bed and itsupper corners pivotally mounted to the legs, a second motor mounted onthe pad to project forwardly therefrom and having a downwardlyprojecting output shaft, and an elongate normally vertically disposedcutting tool carried by the output shaft and normally projecting intothe surface over which the machine is operated, the rotative axis of thetool occurring on the central vertical plane of the truck andintersecting the axes of the wheels.

7 15. A vehicular routing machine of the character referred toincluding, an elongate frame with front and rear ends, a platform at therear end of the frame, a pair of laterally spaced support wheelsrotatably carried by and supporting the platform, a downwardly openingbearing housing at the front end of the frame, a truck arranged belowthe' front end of the frame and having a flat horizontally disposed bedwith front and rear ends, a fork having laterally spaced legs and ahorizontal header fixed to and projecting upwardly from the front end ofthe bed, a vertically disposed spindle fixed to and projecting upwardlyfrom the header and into the housing, a pair of laterally spaced drivewheels rotatably carried by the bed on axes-intersecting the pivotalaxis of the truck and supporting the truck, and an elongate forwardlyprojecting manually engageable tiller, a motor with a variable speedtransmission carried by the bed and drive means between the transmissionand drive wheels, a flat, normally vertically disposed pad arrangedbetween the legs with its lower portion against the front end of the bedand its upper corners pivotally mounted to the legs, a second motormounted on the pad to project forwardly therefrom and having adownwardly projecting output shaft, and an elongate normally verticallydisposed cutting tool carried by the output shaft and normallyprojecting into the surface over which the machine is operated, and agenerator unit mounted on the platform and supplying current to themotors.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,560,352 Kelsey July 10, 1961 2,984,471 Jackson May 16, 1961

2. A VEHICULAR ROUTING MACHINE OF THE CHARACTER REFERRED TO INCLUDING ANELONGATED FRAME WITH FRONT AND REAR ENDS, A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACEDSUPORT WHEELS AT THE REAR END OF THE FRAME, A TRUCK PIVOTALLY CONNECTEDWITH THE FRONT END OF THE FRAME ON A VERTICAL AXIS AND HAVING A PAIR OFLATERALLY SPACED DRIVE WHEELS ON AN AXIS INTERSECTING THE PIVOTAL AXISOF THE TRUCK, A MOTOR CARRIED BY THE TRUCK AND DRIVING THE DRIVE WHEELS,A SECOND MOTOR CARRIED BY THE TRUCK ON A PLANE INTERMEDIATE THE DRIVEWHEELS AND HAVING A DOWNWARDLY PROJECTING VERTICALLY DISPOSED OUTPUTSHAFT INTERSECTING THE AXES OF THE DRIVE WHEELS, AN ELONGATE VERTICALLYDISPOSED CUTTING TOOL CARRIED BY THE OUTPUT SHAFT TO DEPEND THEREFROMAND INTO THE SURFACE ON WHICH THE MACHINE IS SUPPORTED, AND AN ELONGATETILLER FIXED TO AND PROJECTING FORWARDLY FROM THE TRUCK.